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Objective: To evaluate the accuracy of visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) in determining the site, the size, and the number of cervical biopsies in patients with positive cervical cytology.

Methods: This study included 486 patients with positive cervical cytology who presented to the Gynaecological Oncology Unit of Minia Maternity University Hospital, Egypt, in the period between January 2008 and September 2011. Visual inspection with acetic acid was done for all patients. They were classified into 2 groups according to the results of VIA. Group 1 included VIA-negative women, whereas group 2 included VIA-positive women. All patients were reexamined with colposcopy to prove or disprove the presence of lesions. Cervical biopsies were taken from patients with positive VIA or colposcopically confirmed lesions using punch biopsy forceps. Biopsies were sent for histologic examination.

Conclusions: Visual inspection with acetic acid is a good test for aiding the diagnosis of CIN and may be helpful in determining the site, the size, and the number of biopsies in patients with positive cytologic results. Instead of colposcopy, VIA can be used in developing countries where colposcopic services are not available.

Results outline potential benefits of visual inspection with acetic acid at health care systems in developing countries to determine the site, the size, and the number of biopsies in areas lacking colposcopy.

The study was conducted in and funded by Minia Maternity Hospital, Minia University, in collaboration with the Early Cancer Detection Unit and Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University.